Challenge 15 MPC proof press questions

The ink drum motors on the Challenge 15MP and 21MP were made by Bodine (#NSI-53R) 1/12 hp, 1725 input rpm with 10:1 reduction right-angled gearbox for 173 output rpm. Use SAE 30 oil. The carriage motor should also have a label with similar information. Bodine is still in business, however, last I checked the closest motor they make that could work for the ink drum is #0623, 1/8 hp, 170 output rpm and #0624, 1/8 hp, output 85 rpm.

Thank you for your feedback. Here is the problem we are experiencing. We bought the press through briar press, from someone in California. She was able to operate it, and I saw a video of the actual press in action. The press has three switches on the control panel. As far as we know, the left switch operates the power inking. The middle switch turns on the light, and also operates the carriage, toggling it to the right moves the carriage to the right. Toggling it to the left should move the carriage to the left. The same is true for the switch to the right. However, each time we try to return the carriage to the left, it makes the motor labor and blows a fuse. We replaced the fuse with a breaker box, since the fuses are $8 a pop, so we can experiment without replacing fuses. We attached the manual handle so we could move the carriage. Two issues are apparent. One, the carriage is stiff, but not so stiff that the carriage won’t move to the right. Second, it seems redundant that both the middle small white toggle switch and the right switch, a larger toggle switch would do the same thing. We did have to replace the main wire when we got it; the insulation on the wire was disintegrating and was too dangerous to even plug into test the press when we received it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, and if anyone knows someone who has a challenge 15 mpC, I’d love to contact them.

Posted the above a while back, so this update is a little old. The problem was with the shipping company. There was a rod on the back of the machine which they bent. We didn’t discover it until too late to pursue the issue with the company. The bend in the long rod kept the mechanism from pushing a switch. We had already decided to remove the rod etc. to keep the machine on manual carriage forward and return for safety (and protection of the machine) in a public studio. But the repair guy was amazing and let us know that he could set it up to be automatic if we ever wanted. Yahoo!

Posted the above a while back, so this update is a little old. The problem was with the shipping company. There was a rod on the back of the machine which they bent. We didn’t discover it until too late to pursue the issue with the company. The bend in the long rod kept the mechanism from pushing a switch. We had already decided to remove the rod etc. to keep the machine on manual carriage forward and return for safety (and protection of the machine) in a public studio. But the repair guy was amazing and let us know that he could set it up to be automatic if we ever wanted. Yahoo!